West Brom had briefly leapfrogged the Magpies after a convincing win over Bristol City at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

Two goals in the first 12 minutes from Jerome Thomas and Chris Brunt meant that West Brom were able to cruise to their third win in a row.

Louis Carey deflected in Simon Cox’s shot for the third goal and Cox got on the score sheet himself when he added the fourth.

In other Championship news, Reading ended their ten month wait for a home league win as a Gregorz Rasiak goal eight minutes from time secured a 2-1 win over Ian Holloway’s Blackpool.

Gordon Strachan got his first point as Middlesbrough boss in his third game in charge with a 1-1 draw against in form Nottingham Forest. An early Leroy Lita goal was cancelled out by Robert Earnshaw in the second half.

Full results

Barnsley 1-0 Cardiff

Coventry 1-1 Crystal Palace

Doncaster 2-0 QPR

Ipswich 0-0 Sheff Wed

Leicester 1-0 Plymouth

Middlesbrough 1-1 Nottm Forest

Preston 0-1 Newcastle

Reading 2-1 Blackpool

Sheff Utd 1-0 Peterborough

Swansea 1-0 Derby

Watford 3-0 Scunthorpe

West Brom 4-1 Bristol City

NEXT WEEK….

Preston once again play on Monday evening, this time in a huge local derby against Blackpool. Leaders Newcastle host Swansea whilst West Brom travel to Sheffield Wednesday. Down at the bottom, Roy Keane’s Ipswich travel to Cardiff on Sunday.